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Home / Glossary / DHE
Glossary · Security

DHE

Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral

In plain language

A way for two devices to agree on a secret key over an open connection, using a fresh key each time.

The metaphor

Like two people mixing paint in public: each adds a private shade, and only they can reproduce the final colour.

Going deeper

How it works

  • Each side picks a temporary secret.
  • They combine values to create a shared key.
  • Observers cannot work it out.
  • Past conversations stay safe if a long-term key is stolen.
In practice
  • A secure website connection uses it.
  • A VPN picks it for each session.
  • A scan lists the key exchanges a server offers.

A question owners ask

Why does temporary matter?

If a long-term key is stolen later, older recordings still cannot be opened.

Related terms
AAAAuthentication, Authorization, and AccountingAccount takeoverACLAccess Control ListAdmin accountAESAdvanced Encryption StandardAES-256Advanced Encryption Standards 256-bitAISAutomated Indicator SharingAPTAdvanced Persistent Threat

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